Baseball

GEORGE MASON HANDS VCU 7-4 SETBACK ON FRIDAY AT THE DIAMOND

Apr 06, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. – The VCU Baseball team was able to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against visiting George Mason on Friday night at The Diamond, but it wasn't enough as the Rams had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 7-4 loss to the Patriots.

George Mason improves to 20-11 on the season, including 7-6 in CAA play, while the Rams drop to 17-13 overall and 6-7 in league play.

"I thought their guy (Anthony Montefusco) did a great job, he was everything as advertised," said VCU head coach Paul Keyes. "It was a pretty good game through the seventh inning, and thats where they did a good job of expanding their lead on us. We will put this one behind us and get ready to go again tomorrow."

The Patriots tallied the game's first run in the top of the fifth, creating one run off three hits in the frame.

The Rams nearly took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as redshirt junior Brent Mikionis hit a blast to deep center field with a man on the bases, but George Mason center fielder Nick Allen tracked the down the ball on the warning track and snared the attempt to end the inning and keep VCU off the board.

George Mason extended its lead to 7-0 after runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including four runs in the top of the seventh.

VCU got things going in the bottom of the ninth, as junior infielder Jordan Weymouth and sophomore infielder Joey Cujas led off with back-to-back singles. Mikionis (pictured right) roped a single through the left side of the infield, that scored Weymouth from second base and gave VCU its first run of the contest. Senior catcher Taylor Perkins reached on an infield single to load the bases. The Rams would plate a pair of runs on consecutive groundouts, before redshirt junior Taylor Buran laid down a bunt single to score Perkins from third base. The rally would come to an end on a groundout to the second baseman to end the game.

VCU junior pitcher Kyle Haynes takes the loss, dropping his record to 2-3 on the season. Montefusco improves to 4-1 in 2012, pitching all the way into the ninth inning in tonight's contest.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon at The Diamond, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.